Tool-handle brace.



J. A. STEPHENSON.

TOOL HANDLE BRACE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 16 1915.

1,895,628. Patented Feb. 25, 1919.

JACOB A. STEPHENSON, OF CLEMENTS, KANSAS.

root-HANDLE BRACE.

Application filed October 16, 1915.

of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates 'to tools, such as hammers, hatchets, picks, axes or the like,

and more particularly to a brace to be used in connection with the handles or helves of the various tools, which provides a brace for the handle, and also means for preventing the tool from flying ofii the end of the handle.

With the foregoing and other objects in view this invention consists in such novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and claimed.

In describing the invention inv detail reference will be had to the accompanying drawings wherein like characters designate like and corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in Which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a tool having the improved braces attached thereto, and showing parts of the tool and handle or helve in section,

Fig. 2 is a perspective View of the brace, and

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a different type of tool to that illustrated in Fig. 1.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1 designates the tool head, which in Fig. 1, is shown as an ordinary claw hammer. The hammer head 1 is provided with the usual form of eye 2, and also with angular recesses 3 formed therein and communicating with the eye 2 of the hammer head.

The handle or helve 5 of the hammer illustrated in Fig. 1, is provided with a pair of longitudinally extending recesses or slots 6 and 7, which extend inwardly from the end of the handle upon which the hammer head 1 is mounted. The improved braces, indicated by the numeral 8, are seated in the recesses 6 and 7, upon opposite sides of the handle and are held therein by a rivet 9 which extends through their rear Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 25, 1919.

Serial No. 56,288.

or inner end, and through the handle 5. The brace rods 8 are constructed of any suitable type of metal, and positioned diametrically opposite of each other upon the handle 5, extending through the eye 2 of the hammer head 1. Angular lugs 10 are formed upon the members or brace rods 8 and are provided for seating in the recesses 3 and 4:, for preventing the accidental dislodgement or disconnection between the hammer head and handle or helve 5. The rods or braces 8 protect the handle 5 and materially decrease the liability of break ing the handle, owing to the fact that a large majority of handles of tools of this nature are broken close to the heads or tools which are mounted thereon.

In Fig. 3 of the drawings, a difierent type of tool is shown, which is the ordinary type of excavating pick, including the pick head 20 having the picking point 21 formed thereon, as is ordinary in the construction of tools of this nature. The hub section 22 of the pick head 20 is provided with an eye 23 having angular recesses 24.- communicating therewith, which are provided for receiving the angular lugs 25 formed upon the braces or rods 26. The rods or braces 26 are seated in recesses 27 formed in the handle 28 of the pick, in the same manner in which the braces or rods 8 are attached to the hammer handle 5.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be seen that a brace is provided for attachment to the handles of various types of tools, such as hammers axes, picks, sledge hammers or the like, which will perform the dual function of bracing the handle and materially decreasing the liability of the splitting or breaking of the same, and also prevent the tool head from flying off or being accidentally removed from connection with the handle or helve of the tool.

In reducing the invention to practice, certain minor features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts may necessitate alterations to which the patentee is entitled, provided such alterations are comprehended within the scope of what is claimed.

What is claimed is In a tool handle fastener, the combination of a tool head having an eye extending therethrough and provided in a pair of its opposed Walls with angular recesses communicating With the eye, a handle having its outer end looated-in-said eye; said handle being provided with a pair of longitudinally extending and diametrically opposed *reoesses opening at their outer ends through the outer end of the handleand terminating at their inner ends in shoulders, the-Wallof each recess presenting a substantiallyflat smooth surface, substantially flat elongated bracing plates seated in said handle recesses and lying flush .With said handle, the inner ends of said plates engagingsaidshoulders to prevent rearward movement thereof with relation to the handle and forward movehaving any forward or rearward movement -W-1th relation to the handle, andaa-rrvet,=extendmgflthrough; said plates and handle.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature 1n presence of USEOIAVAURSSGS.

JAGOB A. STEPHENSON.

lVitnesses EARL J AMEs, JoHN A; CRAWFORD.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, byiaddressi ng theCommissioner01!.Patenjts,

Washingtoml). C. 

